Aussies discuss using camels for pet food

Researchers from around Australia are meeting today in Perth to discuss a
plan to turn camels into pet food.

At this meeting, camel experts will also work on a
national management plan for the animal.

Managing
camelsThe project's leader, Glen Edwards, says it is estimated one
million camels are competing with native wildlife for food and
water."Consumptive use of camels, whether it be for human consumption
through live export or even use of camels for pet food, could potentially play a
role in managing camels into the future, but it's yet to be realised how large a
role that will be," he said."I fully expect that there are parts of
Australia where camels are where there will be no option but to shoot the camels
to waste."

Threat to wildlifeResearchers will discuss options for
managing feral camels and how to engage with groups such as pastoralists and
Indigenous people on the issue. Mr Edwards says the drought has made camels an
even bigger threat to wildlife and remote livelihoods."There are a lot of
camels out there, probably around about one million I estimate nationwide and
the population is doubling every eight years on average," he said.

"So
what we're seeing currently, and if we don't start to turn it around and address
the camel management issue, we're going to be facing this situation more and
more in the future."